Jock Brocas is a spiritual author and teacher with books published internationally. Jock is also the president of the charity organization assmpi and works tirelessly to he others develop spiritually and live a more rewarding life. Join Jock Brocas on a spiritual journey.
http://jockbrocas.us
Are there a ghosts in the house going ‘Whooooooeeeeeeee’ in your home? Can you hear a ‘pitter and patter’ and a ‘clatter and clang’ when you’re trying to sleep at night? Don’t move out just yet: you may want to consider the fact that it’s something else making all the noise! While these are the sounds that are most associated with ghosts in the house, here’s the thing: they could also mean your HVAC system is the ghost in your house!
Old houses usually have draft currents that can really give you the chills and break out the goosebumps. Add to this the constant settling noises that an old house usually. So what happens when your HVAC system is also old and adds to the litany? You’ve got a primetime ghost story, that’s what!
Let’s see how your HVAC System can be your ghost.
Air Flow Causes The Noise Of Ghosts In The House
Ghosts In The House
When the compressor of your air conditioning system is at fault, you might find the air conditioner making some wheezy noises. Also, a compressor which isn’t working at full efficiency may lead to inconsistent temperatures throughout the house, which helps create a paranormal effect with pockets of hot and cold air.
When it comes to air flow, you may also find some doors slamming easily while another room is quite drafty. This tends to happen when the indoor air pressure is varying, which is also another effect of having an HVAC system that doesn’t work efficiently! Big houses are more susceptible to this paranormal effect. To get rid of it, all you need to do is fix your air conditioner stat!
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
There have been quite a few stories out there of people who have been seeing ghosts and other supernatural activity in their homes, only to be informed that these are the effects of carbon monoxide poisoning. Carbon monoxide poisoning normally happens when fossil fuels are burned for heat in furnaces and release the gas, but this gas has nowhere to escape: your chimney may be blocked and all windows closed to keep the cold out.
When this happens, there is a build-up of carbon monoxide in the house, which can lead to all impressions of supernatural activity: hallucinations of ghost-like figures moving around the house, people calling out but there’s no one there, noises when there should be none, extreme lethargy and high probability of accidents in the house which can easily be attributed to ghosts, such as falling down flights of stairs!
Effects of carbon monoxide poisoning are not only hallucinations, but also headaches, dizziness, drowsiness, chest pains, severe paralysis and eventually death. This is why you need to have CO monitors around your house to tell you if CO levels are high. If they are, you need to fix your HVAC system.
Sorting out your HVAC system so that such gases can be released outside the house will do marvels to get rid of all your ghostly problems. You can do this by calling in an HVAC system technician to help you change your furnace air filter, open up any blocked ducts and vents around the house and clean up any outside debris on your outdoor HVAC unit.
Blocked Condensate Pipe
When something goes ‘drip drip’ all the time, you may think there’s a ghost in the house! Air conditioners shouldn’t leak water in the house but when they do, the sound the water makes as it hits the floors is quite, quite eerie – especially in the middle of the night. Every creak and groan in the night added to the constant dripping noise is enough to have anyone thinking someone’s being killed by a ghost and their blood’s dripping all over the house!
Ghosts in the house
In ninety percent of most paranormal situations, it’s the HVAC at fault. An old HVAC system has its fair share of issues – so if yours is acting up, don’t call in the paranormal guys to help you make head or tail of your ghostly observances. Call an HVAC technician instead to fix your HVAC system and see if all the supernatural activity around your house comes to a halt.
If not, you’re living in a haunted house. Move out before the resident ghost decides to take your life!
The Haunting of Hill House is reportedly one of the scariest fiction ghost series to date. The series made its debut on Netflix recently and has already become one of the most talked about series of the year. Being quite the fan of paranormal fictional stories myself, I decided to give it a watch too and all I can say it is not for the faint of heart. Still, if you are interested to watch a good ghost story over the weekend, be sure to check out our introduction to the series below.
We will not give too much away regarding the story, especially if you intend on watching the series. What we can tell you however, is that the Haunting of Hill House is an adaptation on a novel written by Shirley Jackson. The series tells the story of two siblings, who grew up in a famous haunted house. As adults, they return to the location and face the ghosts that have haunted their minds.
To put it in my own words, an enormous amount of detail went into these series. There are ghosts present throughout the series and you might not even notice them at first. There are lots of obvious scares, which one would expect from a series like this. However, I love the subtle and constant feeling of terror one gets when watching this.
I am not the only one who loves the Haunting of Hill House though. Horror legend Steven King has also declared his love for the series, prompting many horror fans to go and watch themselves.
Because of the presence of "hidden ghosts", which I mentioned a little easier, it is more than recommended to watch the series several times. The creators of the series have done wonders incorporating hidden ghosts throughout, so anyone who has excellent perception will love these series even more. I do have to admit, I had to watch more than once to find them all. Can you spot them all on your first watch?
Mellissa Molloy, and Abbey Greenfield have been trying to find a ghost in their family home in Raynham, New England, for 13 years. They got help from a surprising source: the Travel Channel and their paranormal ghost-hunting program, who decided to help them. The paranormal activities experienced are the core of movies.
13 years ago, Molloy and Greenfield brought their dream family home, which was built in 1860 in Raynham, New England. However, shortly after moving in, it became apparent that their dream home was resident to more than just their family.
Paranormal Activities
In the episode "Kindred Spirits," the couple talk about how people touch them all the time, without them being in the same room. They say that they can hear people walking, see shadows of people, and that things move on their own. These incidents were regular activities for the household. It became so unbearable for the family of five that they began sealing off parts of the house to lessen the interaction. They had sealed off the attic, and even their daughter's closet door was sealed with duct tape for years because they were afraid of ghosts.
Paranormal Activity Stops Remodeling The Home
After putting off refurbishing the house for many years because of the paranormal activities in the home, they needed to get them done because they could no longer hold out. This was the tipping point for Greenfield, who then contacted the show producers.
Kindred Spirit is hosted by a team of professional paranormal investigators who investigate any hunts that are unlike most common day-to-day reports. Obviously, the Ryanham family's 13-year-long torment can only be described as unique. The team uses various tools and techniques to identify the entities and gently resolve the issues.
The Spirit Box
One of the program's hosts, Ami Bruni, used what is known as the “spirit box,” which scans radio frequencies while sending out white noise. It is believed that the spirits can communicate with the living via this tool. Ami Bruni did communicate with the spirits in the house.
During the several days the team spent there, it became apparent that the house was situated within the Bridgewater Triangle, an area of southeastern Massachusetts.
Bridgewater Triangle
The Bridgewater Triangle is an area of about 200 square miles in the southeast Massachusetts area of America. It is believed that this area is the site of unprecedented paranormal phenomena, with reports ranging from UFOs, poltergeists, and orbs, to balls of fire. There are also reports of sightings of giant snakes, bigfoot, and thunderbirds. Over the centuries, many satanic activities, as well as spiritual activities, have been held in this area.
The three places where the points of the triangle go are Abington, Freetown, and Rehoboth. Raynham is within this triangle.
Bruni was reported to have said that “New England for paranormal investigators is like Hollywood for actors.” And that people within the paranormal field would say that New England is one of the most hunted places in the country.
The series Kindred Spirits, which is now available on the Travel Channel, reveals how they helped the family in episode seven, “living with the dead." However, it would be unfair to tell you exactly what happens in the episode that will have to be viewed on Friday, March 3rd, at 9 p.m. on the Travel Channel. It is also available on Discovery+ to stream.
This sort of paranormal activity usually only appears in films and is a must-watch if you are interested in this subject.
Citations.
Schener, David (2023, February 28): A Travel Channel crew 'rushes' to Raynham to help a family living with an 'aggressive' ghost, Taunton Daily Gazette.
Fradroski.Kelli Skye (2023, October, 21) Kindred Spirits’ host Amy Bruni explains how to talk to ghosts, and shares a Queen Mary scare in the new book, Los Angeles Daily News.
I am the science editor for Paranormal Daily News, and I am also a licensed California General Building Contractor and I’ve done a lot of handyman type work over the years. What I want to address today are some of the normal things that occur with buildings that have to be taken into consideration when examining a potential haunting or ghost.
I’ve run into a quite a few stories of people claiming that something paranormal was happening in their home that were head scratchers for me. “No,” I’d think to myself, “I’ve run into that kind of problem before and I know what causes it and how to fix it.” So I’ve made a little list of stuff that I’m familiar with. There are other things that paranormal investigators should be aware of, of course, but I’m only addressing things that might be related to a haunting that are within my area of expertise.
This is in no way a debunking of paranormal investigations or their findings. However, in any quality paranormal investigation, ordinary causes have to be either completely ruled out or accounted for, otherwise an investigation will leave questions on the table, ripe for criticism. Here, I am going to address the things that someone in construction will run into from time to time.
Haunted Houses Have Personality
Houses are systems and they have their own personalities. They have water, electrical, sewer, heating and often gas and air conditioning. They have a variety of passive mechanical systems, such as door knobs and locks, hinges and drawers, electronic and electromechanical systems, such as ovens, dishwashers, garbage disposals, washers, dryers etc. At any given moment, these parts of the house are in various states of repair and are subject to the vagaries of their initial installation and general wear over time.
In addition to this, houses have consumable items, such as light bulbs and air filters that wear out.
The building may have been remodeled at some point or have various other idiosyncrasies. Every building is different and some of the things that go on in houses can seem paranormal to people who don’t see this stuff happen on a regular basis.
In addition to this, I don’t think it’s enough just to provide a list, but also how to check for these things. Many of these strange things can be tested for relatively easily.
Lights that go on and off or flicker for seemingly no reason:
There are lots of things that can cause this. While it is possible for the house wiring to be the problem, it’s far more likely to be coming from a switch, the light or the light fixture. This kind of thing is on my client’s fix it list often enough that I would be very reluctant to ever ascribe it to anything paranormal.
Electrical Paranormal Quirks
If the light is fluorescent, this can be caused by a failing transformer or light. They tend to flicker when they’re failing. Fluorescent lights often have a dark spot near the base when they start to go bad, and they tend to make a buzzing sound and don’t put out much light. It’s all fairly obvious if you take off the light cover and look at them directly.
Some light fixtures (very common for recessed lighting) have thermal sensors that shut the light off if the internal temperature is too high. (More common in summer on hot days when the attic temperature is quite high) This occurs where the socket is, high up in the fixture. The most common cause of this problem is recessed lights covered in insulation in the attic. You can test for this problem, but it takes awhile. Leave the lights off for an hour so that they have a chance to cool down, then turn them on. All the lights should come on, and then once they heat up, they will randomly turn off for a while and then come back on again after they have cooled down.
It can be loose wiring, which randomly makes contact due to environmental changes. You can’t tell without exposing electrical boxes. Leave that to the electricians. This is pretty rare in comparison to other problems.
It can be a failing switch as well. You can test switches by very slowly turning them on and off. They should be either on or off. If you can find a spot where the light flickers, the switch is failing.
Any light with electronics (usually LED) is vulnerable to weird failures. Speaking of LED’s, they draw very little power, so it’s possible for them to be on when there is effectively no power in the house. They’re running off a trickle of electricity that’s still running through the line.
Mind and Matter
Having said that, scientific studies into mind/matter interactions, (aka telekinesis, aka psychokinesis), which is what this is, requires lability (unstable or easily changeable). So it is possible that an ordinary failing electrical connection could provide an environment suitable for the paranormal. Context is important.
Weird Knocks, Creaks, Groans:
These do exist as paranormal things and unlike weird lighting issues, I don't see a lot of these things, except for water hammering. It's pretty easy to figure out.
This can be nail pops. A nail somewhere nearby is pulled by bending wood, usually warping slightly due to temperature changes until it pops up a little bit. They can be quite loud and are a distinct, short, sharp sound that comes from inside the walls and echos around, making it impossible to determine where they can come from. They can occur at all hours, but more typically, they come during temperature changes outside.
Water hammering, which is more of a thump sound. It’s caused by a sudden change in water pressure in a pipe that’s not securely fastened. The most probable cause is water shutting off abruptly somewhere in the house. Usually this is faucets, but can also be washing machines. The cause and effect are fairly obvious, and it’s fairly easy to test for this and rule it out. Usually the occupant will know what this is.
Plastic drain pipes can also rub against wood, making noise as they expand or contract, if they’re wedged in a particular way. I’ve seen this happen exactly once in 20+ years, so it’s not likely at all.
Floor squeaks: While this is usually screamingly obvious, step here and get a squeak, step there and nothing happens, house settling or temperature changes can cause squeaks as well. We’re all familiar with that sound.
Creaking and groaning: This is usually caused by the building settling. This is dependent on the soil that the building sits on. Wood buildings on mostly clay soil will experience soil expansion during wet weather as the ground expands due to moisture, and shrink during summer due to drying out. Changing seasons is what’s relevant here. A building sitting on concrete posts deep in the ground probably won’t have this problem.
Scratching Sounds, Movement in attic: You probably guessed this just from the description and I debated with the editor whether to add this at all because it’s fairly obvious what’s happening. It’s rats. Except for the occasional squirrel, and bats, it’s always rats. They need an opening the size of a quarter to get in and if an opening is not big enough, they can chew the rest of the way, even through concrete in some cases. It’s not entirely impossible for a raccoon to get into some attics. Sometimes the roof framing is sloppy and leaves larger gaps where rooflines meet. Rats, squirrels and raccoons commute, meaning that they have certain hours of activity in a home, and they’re away the rest of the time.
Cold air, weird smells
Houses are rarely airtight, so random air from outside can drift through from outside even with windows shut and doors closed. I’m trained by my job to notice this stuff and I can often identify what type of smell I’m picking up, or that cold air is blowing around.
Air can drift through leaky air ducting.
it can drift through chimneys.
and poorly sealed doors and windows with air gaps.
It’s the kind of thing that people don’t normally pay attention to, but people who are actively ghost hunting would be far more aware of these changes and looking for that sort of thing, so they would be more likely to notice.
Things to check for are: Does the house have ducting running through a crawl space or basement? Can you feel cold air blowing through the vent? Are the doors and windows airtight? (This can be really hard to check for.) What time of year is it? How cold is the weather outside? Is a whole area cold? Or is it near the ground? Cold air traveling nearer to the ground is almost definitely an ordinary cause, but a whole cold spot area is less likely to be ordinary.
If a house has a basement or crawlspace then in some situations air can come up from gaps in vent pipes, lending a musty smell to the air. This would be more common in areas where dry rot can occur, such as near exterior doors, bathrooms or near an interior crawlspace access. It tends to be stronger in wet weather.
Doors randomly opening
I say opening and not closing, because most people can think of the ordinary causes for a door closing on its own and it’s not worth discussing. But a door randomly opening is harder to explain. However, it is possible under a very specific condition, so that’s what I’m going to address. This is quite rare.
If the gap between the door and the frame is wide, so that the door barely latches, then temperature and/or humidity changes can affect the door enough to spring the latch. It’s fairly easy to check this and it’s something that should be ruled out as an ordinary cause. So check to see whether the door is barely latching and then see if it naturally swings open when it’s unlatched. If both are true, then there’s your most likely cause.
Carbon monoxide poisoning
You may have read about this already, as this makes it through the news sometimes. Carbon monoxide is caused by fuel burning appliances in your home. This could be an oven, dryer or forced air heater or some other gas burning fixture. At some level in between getting a headache and killing you, it can cause hallucinations. This is quite rare. About 1.4 people in every 10,000 get sick enough from carbon monoxide to go to the hospital in the U.S.
You can test for this with an inexpensive carbon monoxide detector for as little as $20.
Just to sum this up, I do think that hauntings and ghosts exist and that they are explainable. But I’m also so familiar with houses that my go-to explanation for most of the things that go bump in the night is that something probably needs to be fixed.
There’s a remote and sleepy hollow cloaked in a dark past; a force drawing you back in time with an invitation to explore its eerie existence. The historic Boyd House once filled its walls with the sounds of children’s laughter is now filled with secrets. Imagine being transported back in time to a simpler era. A time without cell phones. A time when you knew your neighbours. A time when children played face to face. A time when family secrets were kept secret.
If you drive about two and a half hours west of Minneapolis, Minnesota, you’ll experience an endless road lined with farmers' fields on both sides. Then suddenly, in the middle of nowhere, the fields unzip to reveal a small piece of civilization: the tiny city of Boyd, Minnesota. It’s a welcome visual break from the symmetrical monotony of flanking cornrows. Boyd sits upon land originally inhabited by the indigenous tribes of the Dakota and the Anishinaabe. Descendants still live there today.
Bygone Days of Boyd House
On the edge of town, on the North-East corner of Scandia Avenue and 2nd Street, you’ll find 217 Scandia Avenue, a majestic, whitewashed home with four floors and a welcoming front porch facing the Boyd water tower. On one side stands the old lumberyard. There are railway tracks behind the house which served as a community lifeline over a hundred years ago. The new owner, paranormal investigator Jill Shelley, has affectionately named it The Boyd House.
Built in 1901, the house deed goes back to 1884 when the land was owned by the Hastings and Dakota Railway Company and officially entrusted to a man named Charles F. Hatch. It is said that he committed suicide in 1889 by shooting himself. The replacement trustee appointed by the now called Wisconsin Minnesota and Pacific Railway Company, was R. C. Mitchell who soon conveyed the land to Maddie E. Hatch in 1889, as the executrix of Hatch’s will.
The land known as Lot SW ¼ Section 15, Township 116, Range 42, changed hands numerous times until it was purchased by Peter Blacksmith and Ida Krogstad, who were married when Ida was only ten years old. Ole Iverson also owned part of the land. In 1901, H. J. Haakenson and his wife Pauline bought the house.
Did Previous Boyd House Owners Leave A Spiritual Signature?
Fred Eckhardt, Jr. was born in Ontario, New York, and married to Minnie Fenske, a German Immigrant. They moved to Boyd in 1906 with their four children, Selma, Alfred, Oscar and Elsa and purchased the Boyd House in 1912. Fred opened a general merchandise store with his brother-in-law and soon became a well-respected contributor to the community. According to a book about Boyd that Jill received from town volunteers, Fred cultivated a solid rapport with his customers. He even minted his own coins for his customers’ convenient use. It has also been said that Fred was an avid gardener with some people claiming that they’ve seen his ghost tending to the garden.
Fred was also the local Justice of the Peace, a member of the school board, city council and even the fire department. He and his father built the Lutheran Church, which still stands today and can be seen from the front porch of the house on the opposite corner of the street.
The Boyd House and the Eckhardt General Merchandise store survived the Great Depression, a flood, and numerous robberies. The availability of its products was made possible by the proximity of the railroad nearby.
Boyd House during the floods. Image Jill Shelley
Is it possible that Fred and Minnie’s resilience and strong ties to the community have left a spiritual signature on the house, long after their deaths?
Jill Shelley’s Dream Come True
As a young girl, Jill Shelley had a keen interest in the spirit world. She nurtured her curiosity and brought it with her into adulthood. In 2010, she formed a team of paranormal investigators called St. Croix Paranormal. Over ten years, the team has visited numerous haunted locations all over the United States. Jill has worked as a surgical technician for the last 19 years and before that, as a veterinary technician for 18 years.
Somewhere along her journey, Jill conceived a dream. She wanted to buy her own haunted house and offer it to the public and other paranormal researchers. Determined to bring her dream into reality, Jill engaged a real estate agent and began her property search. As soon as she came across the photographs of 217 Scandia Avenue, she knew it was the one. Naturally, listings rarely include details of any reported paranormal events, so Jill relied on her intuition.
During her first visit to the haunted home, she said she felt as if she was being watched. Jill calls herself “old school” and loves the traditional investigator equipment, such as Radiating Electromagnetic (REM) pods, K2 meters, and spirit boxes. She placed REM pods in various rooms around the house and told us that the one in the purple room lit up within eight minutes of being set up. A picture of Fred and Minnie Eckhardt now hangs on the exterior wall of that room.
Fred and Minnie Eckhardt; Image Jill Shelley
Book Of Boyd Evokes Nostalgic Spirits
Jill was given a book about Boyd’s history called “Memories 1884-1984 Boyd” which was put together by Boyd town volunteers. It’s full of details and photographs, including those of the Eckhardt family and their general store. During our interview, Jill reported that upon opening the book inside the house and asking the spirits about it, activity immediately increased. It is possible that spirits became emotional with nostalgia and were motivated to declare their presence when reunited with their past through those photographs.
Resident Spirits Feel At Home Again
Photos in the Boyd book indicate that the exterior has remained unchanged for over 100 years. With four bedrooms and two bathrooms, the house is a spacious 2120 square feet, and brimming with natural woodwork. Jill and her husband Justin have redecorated the house to recreate what they think it might have looked like. They added ornate Victorian-style wallpaper and antique-looking furniture and even brought in objects that are said to have spiritual attachments. Possibly, all of this might help any resident spirits feel welcome and at home again.
Jill named some of the rooms, such as the Purple Room and the Gold Room. In the kitchen, there is a sunny yellow dinner table with a grooved aluminium edge and matching vinyl and chrome chairs. The beautiful solid wood bannister and handrail of the staircase cordially invite visitors to climb the stairs with treads fitted with a dark floral carpet runner. The top floor of the house reveals a spacious walk-up attic with large windows allowing in enough light to banish only some of the shadows.
Potato Advertisement. Image Jill Shelley
Diving Into The Deeper Layers of History
Thrilled with her new house, Jill set out to learn as much as she could about its history. She visited the local historical society and even met with the great-grandson of Fred Eckhardt, also named Fred Eckhardt. He gifted her a handful of coins from his great grandfather Fred Eckhardt’s general store. He also gave her photographs and the potato advertisement shown above. Jill’s research continues today. She has been able to dig up countless details about the haunted home, the surrounding area, and the people who lived there. Some of it, however, remains shrouded in mystery, with any secrets buried with their keepers.
Uncovering A Tragic Past
Fred and Minnie’s family grew steadily to a total of eleven children. Sadly, David and Violet and two of their other children died in infancy, with two of them reported by Jill as passing away in the Boyd House. Fred and Minnie would spend the rest of their lives in their beautiful home, both of them passing away in the house, three years apart. Minnie died of a stroke in 1955 and according to a copy of her Funeral program, is buried close by at the Zion Lutheran Cemetery. Fred died in 1958 at the age of 76. The house was later owned by Anna Maria Reichherzer and according to the deed, she was born May 24, 1887, and died October 16, 1977. Her daughter, Erica Just assumed sole ownership. Jill notes that Ms Reichherzer also passed away in the Boyd House.
None of this information appears in the real estate listing.
Are Spirits Trying to Reveal Sinister Secrets?
Many paranormal investigators have spent time examining the four floors of this haunted home, trying to capture electronic voice phenomena (EVP) and video footage of paranormal activity. None have reported experiencing any harmful or sinister events. In fact, some investigators report a calmness in the house and despite the numerous activity they claim to have experienced, none of it was threatening. However, one of the video recordings Jill Shelley has, is a voice saying “He stabbed her.” Who was stabbed? Was Minnie stabbed?
On another occasion, Jill was in the library room and asked, “Did you die here?” She describes a recording of a voice responding, “Search for the body.” Jill also mentioned that once when she checked the storage area at the end of the hallway on the first floor, she heard a distinct “Don’t hurt me” plea when she checked the recording. Jill describes feeling extremely uneasy at the threshold of the master bedroom closet. Did horrible and unspeakable events happen in this house? If so, did they happen while the Eckhardt Family lived there? Perhaps it is the children’s spirits simply playing pranks on anyone who visits.
Boyd House Brims With Ghostly Tales
I’ve heard of playful spirits before. Not all ghosts are evil. There are probably some who are mischievous and who enjoy playing tricks on visitors. You can imagine what the house sounded like with so many Eckhardt children running around. They didn’t have television or video games. They probably explored every corner of the house, played hide and seek in the closets, and stayed up late in the dark, giggling together in their shared bedrooms.
Jill Shelley told me that the spirits in the house love to play cards, especially the game 21 while she uses a K2 meter. She even has a video of a card being pushed off the edge of a table after she asked them to do so. If you have ever had a cat, you know what that move looks like. Anything remotely close to the edge of a table or counter is fair game to the intentional flick of a cat’s paw. Although no cat could be seen in the video footage, one psychic told Jill that the spirit of Samson the cat resides in the house.
Of the many paranormal investigator teams that have stayed in the house, one of them, the Northern Outer Realm Paranormal Society, gave Jill a video capturing what appears to be two shadow figures, one substantially shorter than the other, running through the kitchen. Others have reported hearing children’s laughter or being touched. One of the researchers in a documentary about the Boyd House, says he felt a finger touch the back of his head. Jill herself said she’s been touched in the house. Maybe the spirits want to play a game of tag. Maybe it’s the ghost of Samson the cat, wanting his head scratched.
Why Is The Population Declining?
Isn’t it strange that the population of Boyd shrunk to only 141 people (Decennial Census) by the year 2020? That is a significant decline. In 1920, it was a booming town of 549 people complete with a town hotel, a dentist, a veterinarian, a piano teacher and hunting season lodging. Mr Pratt, who owned the hotel at one point, was killed by a train. Does the reduction in population have anything to do with the deaths associated with The Boyd House or the paranormal events that have been reported in the house? Of course, there can be many explanations. We may never know the real answers.
Boyd House Image Jill Shelley
Boyd House Is Open for Visitors
Jill and Justin Shelley have opened the house to visitors. Groups of up to eight people can stay overnight in the house from 3:00 p.m. to noon the next day. Recently, they added a coffee station on the first floor. For more information on booking your stay, visit the website.
“Sometimes you find yourself in the middle of nowhere, and sometimes, in the middle nowhere you find yourself." ~Unknown”
After talking with Jill Shelley, seeing the old photographs she sent, and the video footage of evidence from her and other investigators in her documentary film, all I could think of was picturing myself in the house. I would be relaxing in the wingback chair beside the piano and hoping to hear a few of the piano keys being played. I would have my computer resting on my lap while I conjured up words to fill the page with my next article.
While Jill and Justin continue to research the history of the house, many questions will remain unanswered. We may never know what secrets are buried with the Eckhardt family or the other owners of the house. One thing is certain, this grand structure holds an inexplicable charm that appeals to my love for old things and the stories they hold. Perhaps the peaceful city of Boyd will help people find themselves. Perhaps this house in the middle of nowhere will someday double as a writer’s retreat with spirits as muses who have someone to write their stories.
Georgia’s rich history, beautiful landscape and inviting southern charm make it an excellent pick for anyone wanting to visit. And if you’re looking for historical haunted landmarks, you won’t be disappointed. From graveyards to museums and civil war battlefields, the local haunts around the state are plenty, some of which are hidden right in the middle of a city.
Bulloch Hall lays nestled within the busy town of Roswell. Hidden amongst the dense trees, it was a plantation home that produced cotton. Built by slave labor, it was constructed in 1839 by Major James Stephens Bulloch, one of Roswell’s first settlers.
Haunted Plantation
Perched on a small hill, the expansive green lawn and massive Greek Revival-style pillars beckon visitors to its entrance. The great Oak trees that line the property have witnessed the antebellum South, war, and slavery. Adding to its deep roots, it was home to President Theodore Roosevelt’s mother, Martha ‘Mittie’ Bullock Roosevelt, and has played host to many events throughout its time. Mittie Bullock married Theodore Roosevelt Sr. on the property in 1853 and when the Bulloch family fled the home during the Civil War, it became a barracks for the Union Army.
Bulloch Hall
Bulloch Hall is magnificent. The road leading to the estate, now paved for modern-day transportation, gives visitors a glimpse of what the elegant home looked like in the nineteenth century. It’s easy to forget you are in a large city while walking amongst the tall trees (some of which have been there since before the Hall’s construction) or relaxing by Malon’s Pond. The historic site has been restored to look as it once did when first built, including a reconstruction of the slave quarters in the service yard. Guests can walk through and gain a sense of what slave life was like on this particular property. A plaque on the cabin lists the names of all known slaves who served at Bulloch Hall. The exhibit is dedicated to all of them.
Bulloch Hall Slave Quarters Cabin - Reconstruction.
Though it sits only a few hundred feet from a major city road, the lush greenery and gardens bask visitors in quiet serenity, instantly transporting them back in time. But one shouldn’t be fooled by its beauty. The moss-laden paths, calm pond and shade cover trees have a story to tell.
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Grounds at Bulloch Hall
As with many locations in the South, this one is no different when it comes to the history of slavery and war. The site was once a cotton plantation and was home to over thirty slaves, one of whom is said to have been a young girl, around 14 years old.
There are two wells located on the property, the first being in the front yard, which was used as the Bullock family’s primary source of drinking water. The second is located in the rear behind the home and the story goes that the young girl fell to her death in that well.
Bulloch Hall. Well behind home.
Soon after her death, weeping could be heard coming from the well. Some visitors still report that they can hear sobbing echoing from the now boarded up well. It is believed that her apparition has been seen inside the Hall by visitors over the years and there have also been reports of lights flickering on and off within the Hall. According to stories, the young girl's responsibility was to maintain the lighting within the home. Could this strange occurrence be the young slave girl still tending to her duties on the property?
Some witnesses have reported seeing men in civil war dress peering out of the second-floor windows and there have been sightings of a young boy running through the front yard. Even as the Hall sat abandoned for a time, there have been eyewitness accounts of shadows walking the grounds and many photos have been captured over the years of strange apparitions in the front yard and windows. Guests of the local ghost tour often capture these pictures, along with unexplained thermal images.
You’ll find Bulloch Hall on the itinerary for the local ghost tour that is held each week. But whether you visit on your own, or with a tour, or see a ghostly sighting or not, you're sure to leave with Bulloch Hall's iconic and majestic image forever etched on your mind.
The United Kingdom is packed with ghost stories and haunted locations, but none has spoken to the imagination of the local population more, than 50 Berkley Square. In the late 19th century, the spot was named as the most haunted house in London. Since then, locals have only added to the legend. But what are the legends behind the haunted house in Berkley Square?
Berkley Square
Where The Haunted Stories Originated From
50 Berkley Square is often a point of discussion for many of the locals, mainly where the origins of the stories about the house are concerned. Some believe that the stories came from the odd behavior from one of the former residents, a man called Thomas Myers. It is alleged the man slept during the day and made unusual noises at night, starting the rumor of a ghost.
While some attribute the ghost to the odd behavior of Thomas Myer, others believe the stories were invented by writers after the death of Thomas. Whatever the origins of the stories, the alleged ghost haunting the house come with a rather gruesome story.
The Haunted Attic
There are hundreds of stories about 50 Berkley Square in the United Kingdom, but one of the most dominant legends is that of a young woman haunting the attic. There is more to this legend than a standard haunting though, as the stories about the female ghost are outright frightening.
The female ghost
Former and current residents of Berkley Square all know the legend about the young woman haunting the attic of the house. They believe that a young woman used to live in the house but threw herself out of the top floor window after being abused by a family member. Since then, locals claim the woman haunts the house and that she has the power to frighten people to death if she wishes to do so. The female ghost has been reported to appear as a white or brown mist.
The young man
While the story of the female ghost is the most dominant, there are other variants of the story out there among locals. One variant is the story of a young man who was held captive in the attic of the house. He allegedly remained there without human contact and was fed through a hole in the door. It is claimed he went mad and died in the attic.
Lord Lyttleton’s shotgun incident
In 1872, it is alleged that Lord Lyttleton went into the attic to stay the night for a dare. If this is true, then this is around the time Thomas Myer still lived in the house.
The story alleges the Lord indeed spent the night in the attic and locked himself in. However, he encounters the spirit and shot at it with his shotgun. In the morning, he found nothing but his shotgun shells.
Interestingly, the owner of the home was summoned by the council only one year later. Funnily enough, the owner did not have to pay the overdue tax. Why? Because the house was haunted.
The mad maid
In 1879, Mayfair Magazine wrote a story about a maid who allegedly stayed in the attic room of the haunted house. It is claimed she was found mad after a single night in the attic, and she died only a single day after.
The dead sailor
The final story about the house tells the tale of two sailors from the HMS Penelope who spent the night at the house in 1887. One of the sailors died fleeing the house, while the other was found dead. The surviving sailor claimed that the ghost of Thomas Myer attacked them.
Haunted House
Information Known About The House
The only true information that is known about the house is the Thomas Myer was indeed a resident of the house between 1859 and 1870. It is believed he was rejected by his fiancé and remained in the house living the life of a recluse. It is also claimed that his mental health deteriorated severely until his death in 1874. While he lived in the house, Thomas neglected the house, which gave the home a rather ghostly appearance and undoubtedly spawned many of the stories.
An autobiography written by Lady Dorothy Nevill in 1906 describes the story in more detail. Lady Dorothy claimed that Thomas was one of her relatives and that he indeed went mad after his fiancé left him. Dorothy did say that ghost stories were nonsense, stating the lights and noises witnessed by the local population were none other than her uncle pacing around the house at night.
Other than the autobiography of Lady Dorothy, little is known about the house. Researchers believe much of the ghost stories were invented by writers. While this may be the case, 50 Berkley Square remains one of the most controversial and scariest buildings in London.
Have you visited this area, or a Haunted House like it, let us know!
Sometimes in our life, things happen that we never expected to happen. These experiences create lasting wounds that will follow you for the rest of your life. It's easy to dismiss the idea of ghosts until you become a victim. The same thing occurred to a lovely couple who wanted to live their life to the fullest but fell victim to a haunted home that ruined their lives, albeit — temporarily. Let's dive into the famous Hanover haunting.
Tom and DeAnna
This is the narrative of Tom, Deanna, and their children. After they got married, the small apartment was not adequate for this big family. They chose to move into a large house to live their dreams and create lasting memories. They finally discovered the house of their dreams after a long and difficult search. Deanna became increasingly drawn to the house as she recalled childhood memories. Tom wasn't a big fan of the house, but he couldn't say no to Deanna, the love of his life. She pleaded with Tom to finalize the purchase of the home, and Tom eventually agreed. Finally, the day arrived when they moved into the house, but no one knew what was in store for them.
Moving Into the Haunted Home
Not wanting to waste time, they moved into the new house the following Monday. Sometimes the things that bring you happiness, can be a terrible omen. The couple noticed something was off on the first day. While DeAnna was unpacking, she felt as if something was watching her from the shadows. She looked around, in vain, and then went back to work. Everything appeared to be normal, but their sixth sense warned them that something was wrong. It is a natural rule that haunted locations gradually reveal themselves. On a typical day, Tom was in the kitchen when he saw a large scar on his palm that was not there a second before. It caused him to view everyday happenings with increased skepticism. Strange things were happening to both of them, but they felt it was an illusion and were hesitant to tell each other about it.
A Fateful Night
Tom and Dee were both watching TV in the living room one night. Dee became exhausted and needed to relax, so she began heading to her bedroom. Neither of them was prepared for what occurred next. On her way to the bedroom, Dee felt as if someone was following her, and the next thing she knew, she was being dragged onto the kitchen floor, and smashed her head on the kitchen table. She began weeping because she felt so defenseless. Tom dashed into the kitchen and discovered Dee sobbing on the floor. He attempted to question her, but she couldn't say anything. She shook with dread, sweating profusely. There were no words to convey what had happened; all he could do was console her. Dee clutched Tom like a scared kid and they both sat on the floor, struggling to process what had happened.
The Deer Sounds Off During The Hanover Haunting
The number of hauntings grew by the day. There were constantly new catastrophes to deal with. Amber, DeAnna's daughter, also complained of strange voices. She told her mother that she frequently heard the chattering of glasses in the kitchen and that the most astounding thing she heard was someone calling her name. But when she went to investigate, she found nothing.
One night, Tom and Dee were out, and Amber was busy reading a novel. Somewhere around 3 a.m., she became terrified after hearing sounds coming from Tom's room, which was locked. When Dee and Tom arrived home, they opened the room to check. Nobody was prepared for what they witnessed; the stag head was on the floor in the middle of the room. The previously mounted head had been pulled off the wall and placed on the floor by someone or something. But the room was locked, so how was that even possible?
Wavy Dreams
It is said that lost spirits communicate with you in your dreams. Dee was visiting her neighbor's house one day when she stumbled upon a photograph of two men. She froze as a chilly wave ran down her spine. She stated the names of the men, even though she had never met in her life. Dee’s neighbor was perplexed as to how she knew them. Dee told her that she had seen them in her nightmares and that they had advised her to leave her house. When Tom and DeAnna looked into it, they discovered that the house belonged to those abusive guys who had died a long time ago. It became clear that these two restless souls were haunting their home.
The Hanover Haunting Continued
Normally, people get frightened when they see a shadow of something strange or they might experience horrible things when they are alone on a scary night. But Tom, DeAnna and their children had terrifying experiences at their home during the day. They were even assaulted physically, which is unusual. When people are tormented to such an extent, their world is turned upside down. These kinds of tragedies must be examined to the point where victims can relate their stories in a safe atmosphere. Listen to Tom and Dee share their narrative if you want to experience the depth of their story.
If you are thinking about purchasing a new home, you might want to check this list first. Various homes around the world have an extensive history, sometimes even with their own resident spirit or reported hauntings. Of course, some homes around the world are known to be haunted homes, but which are the most haunted ones?
Myrtles Plantation is undoubtedly one of the scariest haunted homes in the world. It achieved the dubious title of 'one of America's most haunted homes' and it is claimed that the home was built on an ancient Indian burial ground.
The rumor that the home is built on an Indian burial ground might not be the sole reason for the haunting. Local legend also states that ten murders took place in the house. Reported sightings include the ghost of a slave wearing a green turban, Sarah Woodruff and her children - who were former residents of the home - and William Winter who was allegedly shot on the front porch of the house.
The Ancient Ram Inn (United Kingdom)
We decided to include the Ancient Ram Inn in this overview because it still functions as a restaurant and hotel. Built in the 1100s, this house has quite the history. Guests have reported hearing screams in the middle of the night and furniture moving on its own. It is even claimed that the house was built on a Pagan burial ground, where children were sacrificed. There have also been reports by guests claiming they were pushed on the bed by a male demon.
The Monte Cristo Homestead (Australia)
The Monte Cristo Homestead may look picturesque from the outside, but there have been some strange and terrifying reports over the years. The Monte Cristo Homestead was the site where a baby was thrown down the stairs by something supernatural. Another boy got burned to death and a pregnant woman was pushed over the balcony by something. It is believed that this home is haunted by the former owners of the house, Christopher and Elizabeth Crawley.
Château de Brissac (France)
While a castle is a home that most of us could not afford, those who can may encounter this French castle situated in Maine-et-Loire. Nicknamed the 'Giant of the Loire Valley', this castle has its own private opera house and can seat a whopping 200 people. It was built by the Count of Anjou in the 11th century and has ties to King Louis XXIII.
The castle is no longer a home, but is currently functioning as a hotel. Reported ghosts are the Green Lady, which is claimed to be the bastard child of King Charles VII. She was murdered by her husband in the 15th century.
Casa Loma (Canada)
Casa Loma in Canada is not as old as some of the other haunted locations mentioned here, as it was only built in 1914. Nonetheless, the estate home is packed with secret passages throughout, which certainly adds more mystery to the stately home.
For years, there have been reports of hauntings at Casa Loma. One of the reported hauntings is that of the White Lady, who is believed to be one of the maids that worked at the home shortly after its construction. It is believed the maid lost her life alongside 60,000 other people in Toronto during the influenza crisis.
Another reported ghost in Casa Loma is believed to be that of Sir Henry Pellatt, the man who ordered the home to be built. It is believed his wife Mary also haunts the home.
Kehoe House (United States)
Built in 1892 for William and Anne Kehoe and their large family consisting of ten children, Kehoe House has quite a sad history. Shortly after starting to live in the house, several of the Kehoe children died.
Since 1992, Kehoe House has been transformed into a popular bed and breakfast. The bed and breakfast is certainly popular among ghost hunters, as several guests have reported hearing the sounds of children playing throughout the night, even though nobody was there.
The Winchester House (United States)
Many books have been written - as well as countless movies produced - about the Winchester House, its history, its unusual previous owners, and of course its ghosts. The stately Victorian home was built on behalf of Sarah Winchester shortly after the death of her husband, the rifle tycoon William Wirt Winchester.
Sarah believed that she was being haunted by spirits who were killed by the rifles her husband made and sold. To avoid the spirits, Sarah built a home that was filled with 47 staircases, 160 rooms, 10,000 window panes, and architectural marvels you would not find in any other home. Staircases reaching to the ceiling, but nowhere else, and even windows that lead to secret passages are a common occurence inside this home. Interestingly, the house was constantly changed and being worked on for 38 years. Construction only stopped when Sarah died of heart failure in 1922.
Reports of hauntings have been rampant for years. Visitors have claimed to have seen the wheelbarrow ghost, who is believed to be someone who worked at the house. Some also believe the home is haunted by Sarah Winchester herself.
Raynham Hall (United Kingdom)
Haunted Homes
England has plenty of old homes with a lengthy history and one of them is Raynham Hall. It was built in 1637 and is currently a tourist attraction, as it is believe the home is being haunted by the so-called "Brown Lady of Raynham Hall". The Brown Lady is believed to be Lady Dorothy Walpole, the former owner of the home. A photographer from Country Life Magazine managed to capture her spirit on camera, which was later published in the 1936 edition of the magazine.
The Amityville House (United States)
The Amityville House is probably the home with the bloodiest history in this overview. In November 1974, Ronald Defeo Jr. shot six family members inside this house. He would later claim that an evil spirit caused him to commit the murders.
The weird history of the Amityville House did not stop with the murders committed by Ronald Defeo Jr. The year following the murders, the home was purchased by the Lutz family. As soon as they moved into the home, the Lutz family experienced severe paranormal activity. They found a hidden red room and doors slamming on their own.
Shortly after their arrival, the family requested that a priest bless the house in order to expel the spirits. The priest in question would later state that mysterious voices told him to get out of the house.
The Lutz family had to move out of the house after only 26 days. Books and movies have been made about the events. Due to all the media attention, the Lutz family later recanted their story. However, one of the sons would later state that the stories were all true, but that the media attention caused them to recant. He also admitted he still had nightmares from his time at the house.
Haunted Homes List?
We want to keep adding to this list and we are sure there are many of you readers who have experiences of other very haunted homes in the world. Let us know and we can add to this list and even begin to go a bit deeper.
Ghosts aren’t just for Halloween, or at least not in York. A city with over 2000 years in the bag, and many aged properties to boot, well, it’s hardly surprising some former residents refuse to leave! Space is at a premium within the city walls, and the living are forced to share with the dead. Or so the rumors would have us believe.
Reports of ghostly mischief are rife, fueled by the many guides keen to relay York’s darker side, but how many of these rumors really stand up to scrutiny? Death is a certainty, but what comes after is anything but. The paranormal proves provocative, with skeptics on one side and believers on the other, while the rest float somewhere in between. But whose view bears most weight? And why?
I worked in Pompeii and at the British Museum before completing a Master’s in Forensic Archaeological Sciences – clearly, I have a preoccupation with death. Moving to York, a city fixated with ghosts seemed the natural next step; the idea for paranormal investigator Porter Biggleswade was born.
Dubbed ‘the Shadow Reader’ for her ability to see ghosts, Porter investigates paranormal activity for a living. ‘There’s nothing normal about the paranormal,’ as Porter would say! While, I can’t claim to share Porter’s ability, I have had experiences which I struggle to rationalize. One occurred not long after my move to York.
Allow me to set the scene. It was a chilly, dry December afternoon and, having spent the morning immersed in research for my Porter Biggleswade series, I needed air. My walk took me in the direction of York Minster to Chapter House Street, a cobbled lane at the side of the Treasurer’s House. I was nearly upon the door when the temperature plummeted. It was both fleeting and unnerving. I can’t claim to have seen anything, but it felt like someone had passed through me. I didn’t linger.
I was alone, it was cold, and my head was filled with ghostly shenanigans, I assumed I was just jumpier than usual. Perhaps it was a natural phenomenon, infrasound, or a rise in the electromagnetic field, which some argue can induce a sense of unease. I was also walking by the Treasurer’s House, a centuries old property steeped in history.
Numerous ghosts are alleged to haunt this property including former owners George Aislaby and Frank Green (who restored it to its former glory before leaving it to The National Trust). The most chilling encounter involved a league of ghostly Romans who terrified apprentice plumber Harry Martindale in the property’s cellar in 1953. This was all fresh in my mind, so maybe I had fallen foul of my imagination.
Fast forward eight years, and I found myself imparting my odd experience to fellow writer Anna Rogers. Anna is paranormally sensitive; she was understandably curious. We decided to join forces in January under the guise of ‘Anna and Amy Investigate’ to investigate the hauntings of York. We don’t have an arsenal of equipment to document paranormal phenomena, but we film our endeavors in the hope of capturing anything out of the norm (plus it hinders us from embellishing any experiences after the fact!).
Our first film was about an experience Anna had had in 2010 (now infamously known as Anna’s ‘Woman in White’). I filmed and interviewed Anna while she retraced her steps from that terrifying night and was amazed by her reaction to certain buildings years after the fact. It inspired me to make a film about my own experience on Chapter House Street - I was curious to see how Anna would react to the place. I was hoping she would pick up on something I had felt that day, and perhaps offer me a little insight.
Anna agreed, and we arranged to film there one bright, blustery morning. I suggested we start in the Treasurer’s House garden before moving onto Chapter House Street. Anna was in good spirits until she ventured through the gates into the garden when her demeanor inexplicably changed. Her smile slipped, and she suddenly appeared hunched. I hadn’t seen her like this before, and Anna was equally thrown by her reaction.
It quickly became apparent this film wasn’t going to be about my experience. Ghosts are nothing if not unpredictable!
Anna reads buildings by touching them. It sometimes induces a physical reaction with nausea being at the extreme end. Watch our films and you’ll see for yourselves! Anyway, I suggested she touch the Treasurer’s House to see if we could unravel why she was suddenly feeling so troubled, but she found herself drawn to the front steps. She followed her urge to sit down, and what happened next stunned us both.
Anna felt herself falling forwards. It took her a moment to understand what was happening, but when she did, we were horrified. She had been shoved.
Anna struggled to unravel what she was experiencing, but she sensed a young woman standing at the top of the steps. The figure was taking advantage of a quiet moment to admire the view. With York Minster dominating the vista it’s easy to see why. Someone stole upon her while she was distracted and pushed her. Hard. The woman fell and hit her head on the steps.
"It was murder."
Anna started to retch. She looked terrified. Moving away from the steps helped, but she seemed to shrink even further. She was freezing, and visibly distressed. I hadn’t seen or felt anything but watching Anna’s reaction threw me yet again. I hadn’t expected any of this. I suggested we go back to my house to discuss what had just happened.
We filmed our post-filming talk to document any detail.
Anna described a woman in her twenties wearing an outfit dating to the Edwardian period. Frank Green didn’t have children, but he was known to be a sociable creature who often threw parties. Was she a guest who had come to a sticky end? Anna felt it was a crime of passion, with someone acting impulsively. Was it a jealous lover or fiancé with an axe to grind?
There was no mention of a death on the steps on the internet, but the woman may have died later from her injuries. Or perhaps ‘the incident’ was covered up. Frank Green was said to be a controlling man who wouldn’t have welcomed bad press. His guests going about murdering each other, well it doesn’t look good, does it! The fact he is rumored to haunt the house suggests he isn’t ready to relinquish the property just yet. Did he pull some strings to keep the murder quiet, or did he really think it was just a devastating accident?
Whatever the truth, I believe something happened there. A ghostly Roman, or even Frank Green himself strolling around the garden smoking a cigar would have been a more likely experience, but the randomness of Anna’s account certainly makes it more intriguing.
